Anne's Book Reviews

Firesong: An Unholy Grave by Aaron Paul Lazar

2009-07-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

What do an abandoned salt mine, prison escapes and a historic church caught in a tornado have in common? What is there in this well-told tale by talented author Aaron Paul Lazar that could bind them together?

Join Gus LeGarde and his family and friends in the investigation when a tornado reveals a murder. The twining trails that turn back on themselves and red herrings will lead Gus and the reader a merry chase in his search for a killer.

More than once nature takes a hand in this story, providing excitement and clues in a story that is loaded with action in the several subplots woven into a solid plot that will keep you reading. You'll have to know what comes next.

Some of the characters are old friends and the new will soon become friends as you'll wish you could move into this area or at least visit with the people living in this story.

I'm happy to highly recommend this Gus LeGarde adventure to any mystery fan or to any fiction reader. You'll discover a new author whose other works you'll want to read. Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

Ancient Laws by Jim Michael Hansen

2009-07-02T18:24:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Dark Sky Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 13: 9780976924326
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

Another winner! For thriller and dark mystery fans, talented author Jim Michael Hansen has produced a story you won't be able to put down until you turn that last page.

A weird murder takes Bryson Coventry to Paris to see if their weird murder is the work of the same killer. He meets French detective named Fallon Le Rue and falls head over heels into lust once again.

Together they chase down clues to a killer who looks like a caveman. One such man is a lawyer who turns up to convince them of his innocence. Another is a D.J. and a third is a cabdriver and sometime hitman. The fourth is an archaeologist. Will one of them be the killer Coventry seeks? The question is which one.

Added complications deepen the mystery in the persons of two women, Jade and Alexandra, who work together to find a lost pharoah's treasure and the man who murdered Jade's uncle for information to the treasure.

Are the two cases related? How? What do they have in common besides all four and a killer arrive in Luxor.

An exciting tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat as vipers make attacks on visitors to thier valley, an airplane goes into the river, and a thousand thrills will permanently fix goosebumps to your skin.

A well told tale with a masterful blend of intrigue, murder, greed, lust, and that little touch of horror will keep you reading. You'll want to read all of this author's tales. They get better and better.

Enjoy. I certainly did.

Anne K. Edwards

Bankok Laws by Jim Michael Hansen

2009-07-02T18:23:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Dark Sky Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 13: 9780976924319
Genre: Thriller/Suspense

If you're planning to travel to Bangkok to sample some of the sleazy and forbidden entertainments found there, beware that it doesn't cost more than you are willing to pay. Like Alan Ewing did.

It's his mysterious murder that brings Bryson Coventry into contact with a lovely P.I. who deliberately seeks him out. The question is why? Would you trust her? Would you trust her story? Is she as she appears to be? Where will she lead Bryson and the reader who follow so willingly?

Familiar characters who will be easily recalled from other "Laws" stories guide us into the realm of shady dealings by an international law firm where almost any fantasy or case can be won by manipulating people. Bangkok Laws is a study of methods of revenge by victims of this firm.

Highly recommended as a tale you will have to finish once you begin to read. Talented author Jim Michael Hansen has woven a fascinating plot from several subplots to satisfy even the pickiest thriller fan. Action aplenty with false trails and red herrings to draw the reader into dead ends and keep us trying to out guess the villains who do what they do sooo well. A book guaranteed to hold your attention and provide you with reading satisfction. Enjoy. I sure did. (But a warning to the girls, don't travel to Bangkok unescorted.)

Anne K. Edwards

Hong Kong Laws by Jim Michael Hansen

2009-07-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Dark Sky Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9769234-8-8
Genre: Suspense/Thriller

Following his urges and impulses will be the death of Bryson Coventry as this time they take him to Hong Kong where he has no expectation of protection from his fellow law enforcement officers. This trip is made because of his promise to help a lovely Asian girl he rescues from death.

In love with love, Bryson pursues the lovely lass when she disappears and he's left with a body. This doesn't deter him and he dons his white knight armor and heads to the Orient. And, again, he is betrayed by his heart.

Join Bryson to see what will happen next as he ventures into the seamy side of a city that is both intriguing and dangerous. Perhaps, that's half the charm for Bryson. Especially as his guide is a lovely lady police officer on the Hong Kong force.

Talented author Jim Michael Hansen has crafted another masterpiece of action and suspense, balanced with an introduction to crime in the Orient not quite as we expect. This is a book you will not want to put down and you'll be looking for his other stories as well.

I'm happy to recommend Hong Kong Laws to any suspense, intrigue or mystery fan as something different. A pleasant way to spend the time as you hope Bryson tries to keep his promise and gets a huge surprise. Author Jim Michael Hansen has outdone himself with surprises for the reader.

Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

His Other Wife by Margaret Blakd

2009-07-02T18:20:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 978-1-60313-354-8
Genre: Romance

Imagine Owen Hetherington's surprise when he finds out his deceased brother Fabio left a woman the family didn't know a large sum of money. Imagine his
further surprise when he learns who the woman is and maybe why the inheritance came to her. Of course Owen's mother ofjects to the other woman's rights, but is forced to abide by the will.

Owen's trip to New Zealand doesn't confirm their suspicions that the woman
is a gold digger. Far from it, he finds Roxie Rawson to be a hard working woman with a small son. And the explanation for the money becomes self
evident.

Roxie doesn't want the Hetherington money nor them in her life. She tells Owen to just leave her alone. He accedes to her wishes. But, as fate will have it, Roxie must make changes in her life and those changes take her to
England and she learns she has settled near the hated family.

It isn't long before Owen discovers Roxie is working and living near his home. His persistence and the boy's desire to know him better convinces Roxie to allow their relationship to grow. And against her will, she finds
herself fighting to keep her own distance from Owen.

Talented author Margaret Blake tells an interesting tale of two people from diverse backgrounds trying to work out their problems. There are secrets on all sides and an ex wife who has designs on Owen added to the mix.

A tale with warmth, laughter and shared pain that the reader will definitely experience. You will enjoy meeting the complex, very real characters. This
is a romance that rises above the usual plot. For the reader who likes a little spice in their reading, the love scenes seem to be belong in the
story, something that often isn't the case.

I'm pleased to recommend this tale to any romance fan. Enjoy. I did.

Anne K. Edwards

Child of Darkness, Child of Light by Dennis Dufour

2009-07-02T18:19:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Trafford Publishing

ISBN: 142514115-6

Genre: Mystery

Police Detective Simon Reynolds must catch a killer who is leaving cryptic messages cut into the flesh of his victoms. He has problems trying to decipher what the mysterious numbers mean.

By the time he does figure out who the killer is and learns how a secret from his own past is connected, his wife is dead, a victim of this killer. The quest to catch the killer becomes personal then.

Talented author Dennis Defour has crafted a well-told tale that will hold any reader's interest. Interesting and realistic characters walk the pages and you may come to believe they could be real.

I'm pleased to recommend this tale as a read well worth the time. It gives us a look into the world of female boxers, something I'm sure most of us know nothing about. Enjoy. I did.

Anne K. Edwards

Lady Blues: Forget Me Not by Aaron Paul Lazar

2009-07-02T18:17:00.000-07:00

A fun read for any reader of fiction. Talented author Aaron Paul Lazar continues the great series on Gus LeGarde and the people in his life. Mystery and romance bearing the faint tint of cooking onions and warm laughter will draw you into a tale you'll hate to see end.

A fire brings trouble to a Korean girl named Lida and romance to Seigfried, Gus's large brother-in-law. As the girl recuperates in Gus' home, secrets from her past are unearthed and they look to Gus for help.

As Gus is involved in their problems, he also becomes involved in the life of a senile senior at a nursing home and a double mystery unfolds. Patients with memory problems like Alzheimers enjoy music and one man who is called the Music Man is especially drawn to Gus when he plays accompaniment to hymns one Sunday afternoon. The Music Man has no memory of his past and has been in the system since the 1940s, according to a nurse who befriends Gus.

In his lucid moments The Music Man speaks of a woman and Gus, who loves to solve puzzles, begins a search for the key to unlock the man's past. What will he find? Will he find anything at all or is the Music Man's past gone forever? And what is the second mystery involving the nursing home?

For a great fun read, I'm pleased to recommend Lady Blues to any mystery fan or romantic or anyone just looking for a good book with characters you long remember. Mr. Lazar invites us into a world of warmth and happy people who you will be glad to call friends and wish you could live among them.

Enjoy. I certainly did.

Anne K. Edwards

An Unconventional Murder by Kenneth L. Levinson

2009-07-02T18:04:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Uncial Press
ISBN: 978-1-60174-064-9
Genre: Mystery

If you have ever attended a writers conference you will immediately identify with the characters in this fun read. Pity the people trapped in a
hotel with a Colorado blizzard blowing snow in faster than it can be removed from the roads.

Its annoying to everyone, especially Arthur Upton, president of the Colorado
Fiction Writers Association, to find the blizzard has caused delays all around and prevented some speakers from attending. Moreover, he is highly irritated to learn an agent he detests is taking the place of one in a panel and for agents appointments with hopeful writers.

Once the conference gets under way, rumor starts that a dummy has been set up as a body in one of the rooms for a mystery contest. Arthur knows no contest is planned and checks on the dummy. He is shocked to find a body instead and the body is dressed in clothes belonging to members of the
group.

Since no police can get to the scene, one of the speakers, a local policeman must take charge of the investigation and do his best. Arthur tries to
help, but learns he is also one of the suspects as the investigation gets underway.

This well told tale takes you into the inner workings of a conference and behind the scenes of a murder investigation with lots of clues, red herrings, and tension. This is one story that makes the reader feel
like they're part of it.

You'll be looking over your shoulder to see if the
killer is sneaking up on you as you hurry down deserted hotel hallways to your room or try to locate the next session you want to attend. An exciting and suspenseful time is had by all.
I'm pleased to recommend this to any mystery fan as well worth the time and a very satisfying read. The convention is like no other you'll ever attend yet is like those you have attended.
Enjoy. I sure did.
Anne K. Edwards

Sinister Among Us by William B. Bradshaw, Ph.D.

2009-07-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Tate Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-5988674-0-4
Genre: Paranormal

Cyprus College in Indiana needs a new president, one who can discover what is going on at the campus. The school is having money troubles and about to lose its accreditation among other problems. The FBI is interested because they suspect drug trafficking may be the cause of some ot the problems so they want to find a qualified candidate who will work with them on clearing things up.

Bradley Green is the man who accepts the challenge. While appearing to support him, certain people are working against his attempts to solve the problems.

Is it possible that demons are at work here, luring the young into the shadowy side of life, ruining their futures? Or is the problem simply one of human weaknesses and people who love to control others and use any means to do so?

Will the information found in a bank deposit box and sessions with people versed in demonology help the new president? Can he overcome the odds against him. A game of who-can-you-trust seems to be shaping up as you read.

This is a new plot for fans of paranormal tales. The only fault one will find is the research on the FBI but it does not seriously detract from the story.

The story is enough to make you wonder if you should send your kids away to college. Could such things happen? Enjoy.

One Potato, Blue Potato by Aaron Paul Lazar

2009-07-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Twilight Times Books
ISBN:
Genre: Paranormal Mystery

A keeper! This is a story you will want to read more than once to pick up stray bits of the story you may miss on the first reading. Excitement galore as you never know when Billy, Sam Moore's kid brother who passed away as a child, may want to spend a bit of time with him.

The device of these visits is as clever as the stories as Billy tries from the beyond to help solve a mystery that Sam is involved in.

Sam's daughter had vanished. Her ex roommate turns up with a tale of an argument over a man, but Sam isn't convinced this is all there is to know. Billy shows Sam his daughter is being held against her will.

This is a complicated tale with terrorism, a visit from the President, more secrets than Sam dreamed of--all blended to keep the tension increasing as you read.

When Sam rides to the rescue (and I mean this in more ways than one), he puts his life on the line. Will he be in time?

This is a book I'm pleased to highly recommend as one you shouldn't miss reading. You'll want to read all of talented author Aaron Paul Lazar's books in this and the LeGarde series. Lots of excitement in all of them and you'll come to think of the characters as old friends you'll enjoy visiting with again and again.

I look forward to reading the next in any of his series. I think you will too.

Anne K. Edwards

Friends in High Places by Marne Davis Kellogg

2009-03-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Title: Friends in High Places
Author: Marne Davis Kellogg
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
ISBN: 978-0-312-33731-5
Genre: Mystery
Rel Date: 3/08

High society never had it so good as when Kick Keswick retured from being a thief. Even though she worked with her husband who was a retired Scotland Yard detective in the past, Kick still felt the same acquisitive urges from time to time. Usually they were controlled and she presented the world of society with her lady-of-leisure persona, a lady who would never do a wrong.

Her husband is called out of retirement to work a case, so Kick takes the chance to help the auction house that once employed her. She intends to fix the problem of fakes turning up and fears an old enemy is responsible.

Will Kick encounter her old enemy, Owen Brace? Who is he? Can she help save the auction house that gave her education in valuables?

These are but a few of the questions you'll find as Kick re-enters the world of valuables that are to be auctioned. The story behind the fakes keeps the plot moving as intriguing characters lead you deeper into the story. You'll want to know how Kick will handle the situation and if she'll run into Owen and what would happen if they meet.

A fun read that any mystery fan will enjoy, written in a light breezy style that entices you to keep reading, unaware of the passage of time. I'm pleased to recommend this tale of the past returning to haunt a retired jewel thief as one that will have you looking for oter stories by this talented writer.
Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

Dance With The Dragon by E. F. Watkins

2009-03-23T09:01:00.000-07:00

Title: Dance with the Dragon
Author: E. F. Watkins
Publisher: Amber Quill Press, LLC
ISBN: 1-59279-052-6
Genre: Paranormal

There's a new cult in town. Barricaded behind hurricane fence with armed guards, the men and women are separated into cottages or barracks. Do you think it sounds inviting? Would you like to join? Wait until you meet the leader.

Peggy Walsh has been kidnapped and the FBI thinks she's to be found in the cult's compound. The problem is how do they get inside? And will Peggy's father, Senator Dan Walsh, be able to rescue her? Can the psychic, Dr. Renascut, help?

Peggy doesn't find the cult particularly something she wants to be a part of, but she does find the leader has a certain presence about him. She doesn't understand why they kidnap new members when they could simply recruit them? The whole situation is a puzzle to her.

The description of this cult is so well told that I can see it's similarity to the Jones cult in South America or the cult in Texas that was destroyed by fire. But there the likeness ends. The difference is in the leaders and their aims.

I'm pleased to highly recommend talented author E. F. Watkins tale of suspense and intrigue blended to a strongly paranormal base to any reader who likes mystery, suspense or the eerie sensation a good horror tale can create. While a paranormal, this tory cross blends horror into the mix and, after reading it, you will be watching where you walk on those dark streets.

Enjoy and beware anyone suggesting a little trip out to their van for whatever reason. Happy reading.

Anne K. Edwards

The Mangler of Malibu Canyon by Jennifer Colt

2009-03-23T08:59:00.000-07:00

Title: The Mangler of Malibu Canyon
Author: Jennifer Colt
Publisher: Broadway Books
ISBN: 10 0767920120
Genre: Mystery

The red-headed twin PIs are at again. In a fast-paced, action-packed story, they manage to save a plane from terrorists and come off wearing bags over their heads to trying to keep their rich aunt and idler cousin from being charged with murder by an eager-beaver prosecutor.

They look guilty to any and all when a headless corpse is found in one of aunt's rugs and the cousin turns up carrying the head but he can't remember how he got it. Involved in this messy situation are the denizens of the posh Malibu Canyon area. Will the girls be able to ferret out the killer or could they become his or her next victims.

Add a cult of the rich and famous who believe in alien abduction to the tale and you have a tongue-in-cheek tale that will have you wanting to ride with the girls on your own pink Harley. The cast of fun characters includes producers who take advantage of starlets and those who want to join the movie star fraternity, trophy wives, cast off wives, and other members of filmdom's population, a cross section of that world that will have you laughing even as you consider the seriousness of the murder.

A fun read that I'm pleased to recommend to any mystery fan who enjoys a lighthearted look at life in the fast lane. Beware the coke snorters and settle back for some enjoyable hours.

Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

Who Killed Marcia Maynard by Alma h. Bond PHD

2009-03-23T08:57:00.001-07:00

Title: Who Killed Marcia Maynard
Author: Alma H. Bond, PH.D.
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-0-595-45896-7
Genre: Mystery

A tale for the readers of psychological mysteries and suspense where a psychologist helps the police solve a particularly visious murder. In this case, the analyst and the policeman are lovers and both could become suspects in the murder. The victim was an old friend to both of them.

There are lots of twists and turns to this tale, lots of clues, red herrings and suspects with motives. How the killer gained access to the victim's apartment is just one part of the puzzle since there is a caretaker living with the victim.

Talented author Alma H. Bond has crafted a tale with interesting characters and genuine knowledge of the field of psychoanalysis due to her own practice in the field. It gives a realism to the tale without the exaggeration of some tales or tv shows.

More than one murder, plenty of mystery, a story that will have you wondering if the victim's profession offers a motive or clue to her death. This is a story that might also please anyone looking for a different kind of read, one that shows how analysis helps in the solving of a case and understanding the workings of the criminal mind.

A chance to learn from an expert as you enjoy the story as I did.

Anne K. Edwards

World Enough and Time by Nancy Madison

2009-03-23T08:55:00.001-07:00

Title: World Enough and Time
> Author: Nancy Madison
> Publisher: ebooksonthe.net
> ISBN: 978-1-59431-561-9
> Genre: Historical Novel
>
> For Tom Mahon the Civil War is over when he winds up a Union prisoner at
> Point Lookout in Maryland. Now he counts the days until he can return to
> his family in Texas and the girl he loves.
>
> When the war does end, he and a friend Randolph Carlilse make their way to
> Texas and sorrow. Tom's father's business is bankrupt, his father dead,
and
> the family of the woman he loves is considering a move to Brazil where so
> many unhappy Confederate citizens are going to find new lives.
>
> To add to Tom's troubles, he is betrayed into the hands of the law. And
too,
> he must find a way to care for his mother.
>
> Separated from each other, Tom and Mattie try to make new lives from the
> unexpected changes in their plans.
>
> Talented author Nancy Madison has crafted a tale of romance and tragedy
amid
> the ruins of a way of life as people struggle to adapt to change and
rebuild
> broken lives. This is a fun read set in a background described to make you
> feel you are there, sharing sorrows and disappointments and new dreams.
The
> reader gets a sense of the culture shock facing emigrants and shares their
> longing for a return to the old life they've lost, even in their
> determination to start over. You'll admire their courage and hardiness in
> accepting the unknown in a new land.
>
> I'm pleased to recommend World Enough and Time as a tale well worth the
> time. Ms Madison crafts a tale that will have you happy and sad in turn.
> Enjoy. I sure did.
>

Dark Lullaby by Mayra Calvani

2009-03-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

Dark Lullaby
by Mayra Calvani
Whiskey Creek Press
ISBN: 978-1593749071
Paranormal Thriller
Ebook and Paperback, 224 pages

I’ve only given one piece of advice in life and that is, “Never fall for a beautiful, mysterious woman while drinking at a Turkish tavern.”
Talented writer Mayra Calvani’s latest book, Dark Lullaby, is yet another example of why I have grown to prefer reading small press books over the usual and predictable mass market books found at the big corporate bookstores. Now don’t get me wrong, those bookstores have great books but when you’ve read every Stephen King or Dean Koontz book possible you would like the opportunity to read a new voice or discover a story teller that can captivate you in a way that makes you stay up late at night because you can’t put the book down.

Mayra Calvani qualifies as one of those writers. In the fairness of full disclosure, I have read other works by Ms. Calvani, so I already knew she was a talented story-teller and as expected, her latest horror book, Dark Lullaby, kept me up late into the wee hours of the dark night.

The story begins when Gabriel Diaz ignores my advice in the opening paragraph and becomes enchanted with an exotic woman he meets at a local tavern. He is quickly captivated not only by her beauty but by her obsessive ideas regarding good and evil and the moral concepts of personal justice.

Despite the fact that almost from the beginning Gabriel feels there is an underlying darkness to his new love named Kamilah, he just can’t seem to break away from her physical and intellectual grip despite her increasingly bizarre behavior and his almost nightly nightmares.

As Kamilah begins to ingrain herself into Gabriel’s live, their relationship grows more complex and dark and a sense of terror pervades Gabriel that somehow Kamilah motives towards him are sinister and that she is hell-bent on overseeing his, if not, personal, at least, moral destruction.

Kamilah convinces Gabriel to travel with her back to her remote homeland in Turkey where they can relax and spend some quality time together.

Despite his rational mind screaming for him not to go Gabriel relents to her child-like pleas and agrees to the trip. Once in the lair of her homeland Gabriel descends into an anxiety-riddled paranoia as he discovers the true nature of his Kamilah. Is Gabriel simply mad or is Kamilah the true essence of all thing evil?

Read Dark Lullaby—You won’t be disappointed.

—JR Clifford, author & reviewer
*This review originally appeared in the Spring 2008 issue of Northwoods Journal

VooDoo Laws by Jim Michael Hansen

2009-03-17T18:39:00.001-07:00

Title: Voodoo Laws
Author: Jim Michael Hansen
Publisher: Dark Sky Publishing, Inc.
trade paperback 422 pages $13.95
ISBN: 9780976924371
Genre: Thriller

Is voodoo real? Can it actually cause people to suffer or die from a curse laid on by a priestess like Ida Wrisp when she cursed Bryson Coventry. The question is why she was doing this. Was someone she knew harmed by him?

Bryson Coventry, head of Denver's homicide unit, had a new murder to contend with--a dead attorney, found in an alley. And he finds voodoo creeping into his case and death seems to follow him from city to city as he seeks answers.

Talented author Jim Michael Hansen has created another story to keep the chills crawling up your spine as you join Coventry in another case. And, yes, he's in lust again with an intriguing young woman who catches his eye from the first time they meet.

This isn't a tale for the squeamish. Lots of action and lots of fun characters to meet. You'll remember Coventry as an old friend with a slight case of never quite meeting the right gal. Could this new lady be just right for him?

And if you don't believe in voodoo, you might begin to wonder as you read. Mystery and chills aplenty as Bryson hunts and is hunted. A story to satisfy all thriller fans. Highly recommended to readers who like new and interesting plots and characters. Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

Nocturne by Angela Cameron

2009-03-17T18:36:00.000-07:00

Title: Nocturne
Author: Angela Cameron
Publisher: Drollerie Press
ISBN:
Genre: Paranormal

A stormy night, a woman alone, lightning in the background on a dark forest road--what more could the paranormal fan ask for an opening in a story? How about a woman's body with the throat torn out lying in the road? Add one ex boyfriend who turns up just as Alyson Wingate discovers the body.

The ex boyfriend escorts Alyson home and insists on searching her house but won't tell her what he's looking for. He says the woman on the road wasn't killed by an animal.

Great sex and blood filled dreams are blended to the story to give it the flavor of mystery and horror and romance. Nocturne by talented author Angela Cameron crosses the boundaries of severall genres to produce a tale that will keep you reading while looking over your shoulder if you are alone in a house that makes any night noises.

Alyson is in for a few surprises and so is the reader as the plot unwinds. She is surprised by what she finds on a visit to the morgue to see the corpse. Wil had warned her.

This tale takes a scary turn for Alyson and her life is changed forever. It is a story that will keep you happily turning pages to see what happens next. Lots of suspense and interesting characters. A world that is fun to read about, but I wouldn't recommend a long visit that might become permanent.

Recommended for any fan of the dark side of life, anyone who enjoys a walk on the twilight side of our world. Enjoy. I did.

Anne K. Edwards

Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed by Marc Blatte

2009-03-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

Title: Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed
By: Marc Blatte
Publisher: Schaffner Press
ISBN: 978-0-9801394-1-9
Genre: Mystery

For any mystery fan who enjoys hip hop, the good life, or a darn good tale with interesting characters, this is for you. This is a story set at the crossroads of our cities with characters from the tenements who have broken away from poverty and those who want to break out but end up doing everything they can to remain as street thugs; the wealthy who enjoy rubbing elbows with the thuggy types but don't acknowledge their existence, and immigrants trying to find a place in this strange world. Standing in the midst of this chaotic mixture is the policeman who must deal with the results of clashes among these groups--murder, theft, stabbings, drugged out rich kids who have no thought for those they hurt.

Talented author Marc Blatte has crafted a story in easy-to-read language that is well worth the time of any mystery or thriller fan. The settings and mix of characters found in any large city are a blend guaranteed to keep you turning the pages.

Detective Black Sallie Blue Eyes and his team must simultaneously find the killer of an immigrant and the gang that stabbed a music producer. With a rich man throwing threats at him, his captain wanting the crimes solved yesterday, and his suspects being freed by a publicity seeking civil rights attorney, the detective is feeling the pressure.

Street thug Scholar and his gang have decided they are going to be hip hop stars and his successful cousin will (or else) make their dream come true. When they are told they need to work on their presentation, they cut up the producer. That Scholar is suspected of murder doesn't help them.

A rich kid has a confrontation with a bouncer and the bouncer ends up hurt with his cousin slain. His rich father hires a top attorney to free him on bail.

I'm pleased to recommend this tale to anyone looking for a good read. There are twists in the plot and the personalities of the characters to make for an excellent tale. You won't want to put it down. Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

A Woman to Blame by Marthanne Shubert

2009-03-17T18:34:00.000-07:00

Title: A Woman to Blame
by Marthanne Shubert
Publisher: Uncial Press
ISBN: 978-1-60174-072-4
Genre: Mystery

Widowed and aging Nick Rossano moves sexy Bunny Sterne into his apartment
and his traveling companions and friends are aghast at his allowing this
opportunistic female to take advantage of him. The couple's association is
the main topic of conversation that PI Gin Ritchey overhears almost daily as
she exercises or comes and goes from the Blue Jasmine where she lives in a
marina.

The quiet pace of life is destroyed when Nick is found dead in his
apartment. Gossip among his friends points the finger at Bunny until the
murderer strikes again. And Gin is hired to find a killer.

Talented author Marthanne Shubert has crafted a fun read in A Woman to Blame
with interesting characters and lots of false clues. Motives abound as
suspicions run rampant and Gin and her police detective friend try to
separate fact from fiction.

The reader will enjoy the setting for this tale as something different and
it gives you a feel for life on a small water craft as you climb over the
rail of the Blue Jasmine. Be sure to wear shoes with a nonslip tread and
keep lots of sunblock handy.

I'm pleased to recommend A Woman to Blame as a read well worth time. The
plot is balanced and characters are well drawn. A fun read. Enjoy. I did.

Anne K. Edwards

The Mighty Tersigni by Cynthia Whitten

2008-11-07T04:22:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Awe-Struck E-Books, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-58749-625-7
Genre: Contemporary Romance

At a young age Roxanne Perry spent a lot of time at a retirement home with her great-aunt Leafie and was often included in her circle of elderly friends. She enjoyed watching them play tennis and one day her aunt gave her a tennis racquet.

She learned to play under the coaching of a man who called himself The Mighty Tersigni. In time she could outplay almost everyone until she met Mr. Tersigni's nephew who played professional tennis.

His appearance into her life changed things a little, but he wasn't a permanent resident of their town to their time together consisted of trying to outdo each other in one sport or another.

The Mighty Tersigni sounds like it might be about an elderly man, but it is really the story of a girl's becoming an adult and the people who influenced her life. Talented author Cynthia Whitten has crafted a fun read with fun characters whose emotions you will share as time goes by.

A fun read for any romance fan. Enjoy.

The Screaming Room by Thomass O'Callaghan

2008-11-07T04:21:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Pinnacle
ISBN: 13: 9780786018123
Genre: Thriller

Talented author Thomas O'Callaghan does it again! Another tale guaranteed to give your goose bumps, goose bumps. Tourists from all over the world visit New York City to meet a gruesome end.

It is said that each serial killer has a reason for what they do, that they may have what they feel is a mission that compels them to kill. Or they may simply kill for the sense of power or pleasure they derive from the act.

Those are the questions that New York City Police Lieutenant John Driscoll and his team must answer in their frantic search for the killer whose acts threaten the tourist industry and therefore, make the mayor threaten Driscoll if he doesn't catch the killer.

Tracking this killer isn't easy and a surprise awaits Driscoll when the identity of the killer is known. Will he be able to stop the killings before the entire city is in a panic?

I'm pleased to recommend this tale to any thriller fan. It will have you eyeing strangers carefully when you travel alone. Guaranteed to keep you awake if you read this tale at bedtime.

Enjoy. I did.

The Watchman by Robert Crais

2008-11-07T04:20:00.001-08:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 13: 9780743281638
Genre: Thriller

In more ways than one Larkin Conner Barkley lived life in the fast lane and that nearly proved to be her undoing. A car accident sent her into hiding with ex-cop Joe Pike as her protector.

Why would a non-fatal accident force her wealthy father, in conjunction with the FBI, to send her on the run? Why was the FBI involved?

Joe Pike owed a favor and taking on the task of protecting Larkin was his form of repayment. It was not a job he enjoyed and his only concern was keeping her alive until such time as she could safely return home.

False trails and lies will keep Joe on the run and the reader will travel righ along with him and Larkin in this multi-layered take of suspense. You will wonder who they can trust? Who is after them?

Talented author Robert Crais keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, turning pages to see what happens next with an easy reading story. A well-told tale with complex characters, each with their own motive and secrets that emerge slowly as the story unwinds. A story that will have you looking for other books by this very imaginative author. Enjoy.

The Witches of Dixie: Book One by Laura Stamps

2008-11-07T04:18:00.000-08:00

Are you prepared for something different in your reading material? The Witches of Dixie is definitely that, something to please and take you into places of the mind and soul you haven't visited before.

A tale told in a colorful and soul-easing prose that brings the world of the Witches of Dixie to life and you'll swear you left your own footprints in the dewy grasses as you visit this place. These are ladies you'll love meeting and long remember as friends.

Savannah, Maylene, Mirabella, and Ravena will take you by the hand into their charmed circle and you'll come away feeling blessed. Such is the kind of magick they practice that it leaves no room for darkness or doubt. Each woman had her own personal struggle to work her way through, situations that feel familiar to all in similarity to our own problems. As they find strength and answers, so will we.

Talented author Laura Stamps writes in a prose poetry that has a mind pleasing cadence and you'll clearly see the crows on the lawn or finches on the roof or the several sleek and wise looking cats who peek out at us from the pages.

I'm pleased to highly recommend this tale to any reader interested in the paranormal, magick, witches, or just a good read well worth the time. Enjoy. I sure did.

Thwarting Magic by Ann Tracey Marr

2008-11-07T04:16:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Awe-struck E-books, Inc.
ISBN: 978-58749-647-9
Genre: Regency Fantasy Romance

Margaret Ridgemont is to marry James Treadway much against her will, as their fathers have decided the matter. Her older sister is a widow who lusts after her sister's fiance would willingly wed him in Margaret's stead. Will Margaret find her happily ever after in spite of these problems?

Treadway visits to meet his bride to be for the first time and a friend Adrian Hughes has accompanied him. While Treadway is seeking a liaison with the widowed sister instead of his fiance, Adrian is trying to find the sorceror who is toying with magic. Will he find the magician in time? Could it be the widowed sister, Margeret or perhaps the youngest, Emma? Untrained magicians can present a danger to themselves and others and this one is causing holes to appear where they shouldn't be as a first sign of trouble.

Talened author Ann Tracy Marr has used her creative imagination to blend history with fantasy to give the reader a great read. This tale is more than a simple romance as lived by an intriguing cast of characters you'll enjoy meeting. She has added a mix of mystery to the magic that will entice you to keep reading, wanting to know what happens next.

Recommended as a fun read well worth the time. You'll be looking for other books by this author to enjoy. For any romantic or fantasy fan, this book will provide pleasant reading. Enjoy. I did.

Treasures Antiques Store by Regan Taylor

2008-11-07T04:13:00.002-08:00

Carrie Taylor loses herself in steamy romances daily, having imaginary encounters with the hunky hero of whatever book she's reading at the moment. Such escapism serves to block out the reality of her seemingly consistent bad choices when it comes to men. And with the latest--Dean, how could she have been so wrong?

She takes her unhappiness to a friend named Mr. Merle who sells antiques. On one particular day she selects a photo of an Indian Brave taken a century and a half before. The man in the picture fascinates her and her lovelorn imagination chooses him for her new hero. Of course, the man is long dead, but still...he's irresistible.

Carrie dreams of him, sure she'll never see him, but all the same dreaming to span the generations can't hurt. Can it?

Does time really matter? But will she be satisfied to spend her life dreaming of a man she can't have. She loves time travel romances and often wonders if it would ever be possible.

This is a tale you will enjoy if you like time travel, paranormal, romance, with a touch of sci-fi, all blended to make for a fun read that will make your own heart a bit lighter for the reading. Recommended for any romantic looking for a good story. Enjoy. I did.

Trial in Jade by Margaret Evans

2008-11-07T04:13:00.001-08:00

Publisher: Moonlight Mystery Press
ISBN: 9780978907617
Genre: Science Fiction/Mystery Thriller

An ancient Mayan city has been discovered in the hills of California and plans are afoot for the return of the Mayans in a new kingdom. But, even as those plans move forward, there is one, Ua'metl, who had different ideas.

Talented author Margaret Evans reintroduces the reader to a historic civilization little known today. History, mythology, mystery, blend together to make for an interesting and intriguing read that will please any reader who likes to venture into a combination of genres that makes foor a fun read.

Join Amy Parrish Magee and her husband, Joe, as they work for the new world that will be partially based on the old that is being unexcavated near their home. The discovery is a secret, but there are those who know and are destined to take part in the new kingdom.

But, no matter how carefully things are planned, Will Rodriguez who is also called Xarantu, knows that things can go wrong. His sister Candis, has a job to do, yet she is distracted by other possibilities. Will she remain steadfast? Will Ua'metl succeed in his own plans for this new world? Will the new world come into fruition? To find out, you must read the book.

This is a great combination of genres with a good measure of suspense in all added and you will have to keep reading. Recommended as worth the time and a look at an original story.

Enjoy. I did.

Under Lock and Key by Rebecca Benston

2008-11-07T04:11:00.000-08:00

Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 1-4241-8058-9
Genre: Mystery

Rona Shively has money problems at the moment. She needs to collect from deadbeat clients and new work. She also has problems with boyfriends and her sister is coming for an unexpected visit. It's all piling up at once.

A previous client wants to hire her to find how his sister fell off a boat. An old boyfriend turns up and pulls her into his troubles. Rona is forced to do a balancing act to keep things moving as she tries to get her investigation underway.

She has a lead to check and that lead takes her straight into danger. Will she get out alive?

Talented author Rebecca Benston shows the reader just how complicated life can get suddenly and how people you thought you knew, aren't who you thought they were.

Recommended as a fun read that will satisfy any mystery fan. Join Rona to see just how she might work through her problems. Surprises await. Enjoy. I did.

Wearing the Spider by Susan Schaab

2008-11-07T04:08:00.000-08:00

For the fan of legal thrillers this will prove a good read and something different in the way of the genre. A refreshing change.

Evie Sullivan is working hard to please her bosses and become a partner in the law firm where she is employed. So why does it suddenly seem she is being undermined at work?

A combination of subplots involving different clients of the firm and different partners keep you reading to find out just what is going on. She seems to be unable to please anyone yet they keep piling the work on. Don't jump to conclusions. There are a few surprises for the reader as the story progresses.

Talented author Susan Schaab skillfully weaves several subplots involving the motives of the well-drawn characters into a cohesive story that offers an intriguing read. This story offers a good look into the operation of a legal firm that only handles wealthy, powerful clients and will do whatever is necessary to achieve their ends.

Altogether a fun read. I'm pleased to recommend this tale to any reader looking for something different. You'll be looking for other books by this fine author. Enjoy. I did.

Regency Society Revisited by Susan Marie Knight

2008-11-07T04:07:00.000-08:00

Anthropologist Serenity Steele wants to travel back in time to a primitive African society, but due to circumstances, ends up instead back in Regency England. She didn't want to go and will be gone for a year.

Did fate play a partt in this event? Or was the other anthropologist's accident just that, an accident? Why did she let herself be talked into going back to a period she didn't approve of?

Once in Regency England, Serenity becomes friends with the wife and daughter of a Lord and is introduced into society. Her new friends believe her cover story about being a widow and set about finding her a new husband.

What would happen if she did meet a man she could love? She only has a year and will automatically be returned to her own time? Will she be able to fulfill her purpose and report on her research into the Regency period?

A fun read for any history or time travel fan. The romantic would also enjoy this story. Talented author Susanne Marie Knight opens the door for a peek into a time we can only speculate at. Written in an easy-to-read style the movement and characters will hold your interest to the last word. Enjoy. I did.

Past Imperfect by Nora Peterson

2008-11-07T04:06:00.000-08:00

A new friend of Sam's dies under strange circumstances just after her father is killed in a car accident, and after the friend has just asked Sam to find out something about her past. So Sam takes on the job of finding out who Angie Drummond really was.

The job takes her from sunny Arizona to wintry Boston just in time for a snowstorm. The airlines loses her luggage and things go downhill from there.

A man who kept bumping into Sam on the street is found murdered in the room next to hers. Papers are stolen from her room, the police aren't interested in the hypothetical case they think Sam is building about her friend's death. And Sam's old boyfriend, Jack, seems more interested in his career than helping her.

But, at last, she does get his help and meets people who she is certain have information about Angie's mysterious past. Will they help her? Or will they consider her a threat when she learns other members of Angie's family also died under questionable circumstances. Who wants to kill an entire family? Why?

Talented author Nora Peterson keeps the reader turning pages as Sam finds herself in the middle of chaotic family relationships and an attempt is made on her life. Well drawn characters add their own touches to the story and you'll get a real dose of winter in Boston.

This is a book I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to any mystery reader. Enjoy. I sure did.

Capable of Murder by Brian Cavanaugh

2008-11-07T04:04:00.000-08:00

Publisher: BeWrite Books
ISBN: 1905202113
Genre: Mystery

Belinda Lawrence discovers the body of her reclusive great aunt on the floor of her home and becomes an heiress as the old lady's death is labeled an accident by the police. But Belinda can't stop the niggling doubt at the back of her mind. The problem was who would kill an old woman and why. There seemed to be nothing missing in the house.

Belinda learns there are great differences from living in the lights of the city and the darkness that descends on the unlighted streets of the village once she claims her inheritance with the intention of living in the house.

It isn't long before an antiques dealer turns up looking for old furniture and a realtor wants to sell the house for her. The only people who seem friendly are her closest neighbors.

A break in at the house, another murder in the house keep the action in this well crafted story moving forward as Belinda has to decide who to trust among the people who have taken an interest in her new home. Why did the lawyer who wrote her aunt's will disappear? Why does the neighbor feel so strongly about the overgrown garden?

These and other questions will keep the reader turning pages as they try to identify the villain of the tale and solve the mystery before Belinda does. Recommended as a fun read written by talented author Brian Kavanagh who introduces us to a cast of characters not soon forgotten. A story with a surprise in store for the reader.

I am pleased to recommend this book to any mystery fan. Enjoy. I did.

Adam's Point by Elena Dorothy Bowman

2008-09-30T12:05:00.001-07:00

Publisher: ebooksonthe.net
ISBN: 1594315043
Genre: Paranormal

Beware large old homes with mysterious pasts. And multiple ghosts.

A young woman inherits a house that seems frozen in time and sets about turning it into an inn with the added attraction of its resident ghosts who'd be sure to give guests a good case of shivers. But that's not all they give the guests.

A powerful spirit takes up residence above the house and it doesn't seem happy. Things become dangerous and the owner doesn't know why. Abigail seems threatened by the house that had formerly welcomed heer. What is going on? Why has the house changed? When guests go missing, Abigails' husband--Ethan, decides the women must leave the house while he searches for them.

Talented author Elena Dorothy Bowman leads us across the line between our reality and that of the spirit world where anything is possible. As in the first two of the series, The House on the Bluff and The Gatekeeper's Realm, there is plenty of spooky action to give you chills and keep you reading. You'll have to know what is the reason behind all the ghosts and events.

I'm pleased to recommend this tale to any reader who enjoys paranormal tales guaranteed to have you looking for other books by the same author. You'll be looking at large old homes wondering if they could have similar ghost tales after reading this fun tale. Enjoy. I sure did.

A Nail Through the Heart by Timothy Hallinan

2008-09-30T12:04:00.001-07:00

Publisher: Wm. Morrow
ISBN: 978-0-06-125580-9
Genre: Thriller

If you like the Orient as a setting for adventure, mystery and thrills, you will enjoy A Nail Through the Heart and the family that travel writer, Poke Rafferty is trying to create with people that society pretends doesn't exist. Except for Poke, most of the people he knows in Bangkok struggle to survive by selling their bodies, anyone from near babies to girls working in bars or on the streets where a booming sex trade lures men who can pay for anything they want.

Poke is asked by a visiting woman to find her uncle who seems to have disappeared. Because he wants to build favors as credits with a police friend, he takes on the job. His investigation leads him to the home of a wealthy recluse who is greatly feared and into the darker side of human nature. The recluse hires him to retrieve stolen property. He must accept this job or else.

Talented author Timothy Hallinan introduces the reader to a subject little known or understood in a land where children and people are for sale for the pleasure of foreigners. Into this world the seeker of pleasure should beware of whom they trust.

I'm pleased to recommend this well-told tale with its deep understanding of human nature. This is the type of story that opens one's eyes to the need for laws in the world to protect the vulnerable while weaving several plots together to hold the reader's attention from beginning to end. Like me, you'll be looking for other books by this imaginative author. Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

The Marathon Murcers by Chester Campbell

2008-09-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Night Shadows Press
ISBN: 978-0-9799167-1-7
Genre: Mystery
4 bolts

Greg and Jill McKenzie are drawn into a mystery of a vanished construction worker and some papers found behind the wall of an old building. The client tells them the story began with an embezzlement charge on another man who disappeared when accused and his bones were found five years later. The case went nowhere after that.

Their client is the granddaughter of the grandson of the accused man. Can Greg and Jill make any sense out of this cold case when everyone concerned with it is long dead?

Talented author Chester D. Campbell weaves a complicated tale of purpose and cross purpose as the interesting cast of characters show us their motives for doing what they do. Why did the construction worker disappear? Where are the papers? What value would they be to anyone else?

These are a few of the questions you'll want answered as you follow Greg and Jill on their investigation. Will they be stepping into danger on what started as a simple investigation into the very dim past?

Recommended as a fun read, lots of action, a well written tale to hole your attention. You'll be wanting to read other stories by this imaginative author. Enjoy. I did.

Anne K. Edwards

Whispers by Nancy Madison

2008-09-30T11:58:00.001-07:00

Publisher: ebooksonthe.net
ISBN: 978-1-59431-266-4
Genre: Romantic Suspense

What would you do if the man you were about to marry betrayed you in the worst possible way the night before your wedding and proved to have another motive for marrying you other than love?

Would you jump from the frying pan into the fire as Lane Hamilton did? In her efforts to put things in perspective she travels south to Virginia only to find her problems have followed. Her return to New York is no better. Will she ever find happiness?

The plot twists and turns, surprising the reader as Layne tries to untangle herself from the darker motives of others. Does love have a chance? Will Layne forgive the past? These are but a few of the questions you'll want answered as you read.

A well-told tale that any romantic suspense fan will enjoy. Creative author Nancy Madison weaves a plot from motives, danger, romance and fear that will keep you reading. You'll feel as if you've stayed at the lovely B&B in Virginia with Layne so well described are the settings. Lots of adventure and action for an exciting read.

Recommended as a fun read that will have you looking for other books by Nancy Madison. Enjoy. I did.

Anne K. Edwards

Double Edged: A change of heart by Ben Harr

2008-09-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Lulu.com
ISBN: 978-1-84753-471-2
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

The CIA has a dangerous assignment coming up and hires a private investigative agency to help with it-Tom Paxton and Sergio Martinez. They're sent to Corsica to learn the whereabouts of on Armand Farel who at age 82 has formed an alliance with terrorists.

Their investigation leads them into danger and this causes more people to become involved. French intelligence and men from the other side of the law as well. Death also becomes a traveling companion on their flight from Corsica, following them onto the next stage of their assignents that now involves the lost fortune of the Knights Templar when they were disbanded by the Pope.

Someone seeks revenge for the perceived theft of this fortune. Is that what he really wants or is this just a front for something even more sinister? Join Tom and Sergio as they travel fro one continent to the other in search of their elusive prey. Will they ever find him? How does a wealthy man in the US connect to the old man and terrorists and the lost fortune and further with global warming?

This is a tale with lots of action, a story with lots of changes of scenery, interesting characters and plenty of international intrigue to suit readers looking for a thriller without the usual gore and bombs. Recommended as a read for anone who enjoys mystery or spy stories. Enjoy.
Anne K. Edwards

Gold Fire by Ed Mitchell

2008-09-30T11:52:00.001-07:00

Publisher: California Coast Publishing
ISBN: 13: 978-0-9668447-2-6
Genre: Thriller4 1/2 bolts

A fun read about the intrigues and complications of becoming a politician. Plenty of excitement. This may be classed as a thriller (and it really is), but it is also a romance using the old definition of a story of mutual affection and honest warmth between two characters.

This is a book to please any reader, except those who live for shoot 'em ups. Talented author Ed Mitchell has used his creative imagination and deep understanding of human nature to bring the reader a story well worth the time to read.

Nolen Martin has decided to run for political office at about the same time terrorists decide to make another strike at bringing down the United States. They manage to involve Russia and China in the plot as well as the nations of the U.N. Using new ideas and a new slant on mass killing, they have a good chance at success.

The international intelligence community responds with some beaurocratic delays and worries about justifyng any actions and paperwork while one nation stands ready to move on the terrorists.

A riveting read for thriller fans offering much by way of excitement and adventure. The people are all complex with their own agendas that make for a complex plot and series of events that keep things interesting for the reader.

Bring your public manners for political mixers and your warmest desert gear for hunting terrorists. This book qould make a quality film. You'll be glad you read it and want to read other books by this talented author. Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

Reluctant Witness by Linda Alexander

2008-09-30T11:51:00.000-07:00

> Title: Reluctant Witness: Robert Taylor, Hollywood, & Communism
> Author: Linda Alexander
> Publisher: Tease Publishing LLC
> ISBN: 978-1-934678-63-3
> Genre: Nonfiction Biography
>
Talented biographer Linda Alexander takes us back to the days when the studio system for developing stars was in its glory; to the days after WWII when the spread of communism was being battled and anyone who didn't agree with the 'better dead than red' type of thinking could be considered suspect.

It was into this world a rather naive young man named Spangler Andrew Brugh stepped and came out known as Robert Taylor, the man with the perfect profile--sex symbol and one of Louis B. Mayer's biggest assets of the era.

Ms Alexander takes the reader from the early days of Robert Taylor's life, through his marriage to actress Barbara Stanwyck, to the development and changes in his career and private life. In this book you will meet his family, friends, associates, and come to know the man he was. You will share his moments before the senate committee that considered the movie industry as rife with communists.

A thoroughly researched story that revisits Hollywood in its heyday, when movie making was not only hard work, but a full time commitment. This is a book that any biography reader, film history buff, or nonfiction reader will enjoy all the way through, one you won't forget any time soon. It will make you look for other books by this very able author.

Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

Grave Web by Betty Sullivan La Pierre

2008-09-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

Publisher: SynergEbooks

ISBN: 0-7443-1405-4

Genre: Mystery

Becky Simpson has just lost her father and in acting as executrix of his estate she uncovers secrets and mysteries that he had hidden from her and her brother all their lives. At the same time she is trying to recover from her loss, she decides this is the time to find her missing mother. She hires Hawkman to discover her whereabouts.

With no idea as to the hornet's nest they are about to stir up, Hawkman begins almost immediately to ask questions. One clue leads to another and then threats begin to both Hawkman and his client. And he is worried.

What dangerous person has he antagonized with his investigation? Who among those he's talked to feels threatened. Is it the yardman, the neighbor, her father's friends or tenants, or another?

Talented author Betty Sullivan La Pierre has, as always, crafted a tale of intrigue, dark secrets and plenty of action. The people will seem like old friends and you'll want to read all of her books.

This is a book I'm pleased to recommend to any reader. A fun read all the way through, a great way to pass some pleasant hours. Enjoy. I sure did.

Review by Anne K. Edwards

Jennifer's Plan by Don Meyers

2008-09-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Cold Tree Press

ISBN: 978-1-58385-199-9

Genre: Mystery

  If you like tales with an different premise for the plot, you'll enjoy Jennifer's Plan. A law student's passage through a small town takes her through another kind of passage with her only hope to stay alive is by using her wits.

  Jennifer Cerriety gets into big trouble when she gets lost on her way to Harpers Crossing. Thought to be someone who is there to cause trouble for the locals, a group of men decide to teach her a lesson at one of their meetings.

  She is kidnapped from her car and thrown into the company of a black boy also taken captive by these men. Soon it becomes obvious that whatever they have planned for Jennifer will include this boy, Harold Seaweather.

  Talented author Don Meyer gives the reader a look into the baser type of personalities in a small town and those with decency and kindness as the story unwinds. Will Jennifer and Harold survive the night? Will they seek revenge on their tormenters? How? Who are these men and what is the purpose of their meetings?

  Realistic characters bring the story alive and you'll like them or dislike them as you read. Through this very able writer's description, you'll feel as if you've visited this small town and met the inhabitants. This is a tale that could have been taken from the newspapers.

  Recommended to any reader of thrillers or stories of the darker side of human nature and what they're capable of. You'll come away with a fuller understanding of evil. Enjoy. I did.

Review by Anne K. Edwards

Lost in the Mist by w. C. Keesey

2008-09-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Wings ePress
ISBN:
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Hey, paranormal and romance fans! Two stories blended as one in this debut novel by talented author, W. C. Keesey. A different kind of adventure that will hold your attention all the way through.

Some strange things have been happening to Connie Hart ever since a talk with her mother's lawyer when he gave her a mysterious box and said her mother wanted her to have it after her death. Did the box's contents have anything to do with Connie's decision to go to Fredericksburg, Virginia? Who was the old woman on the bus? Why does Connie feel as if she knows the town? Why is she seeing things from the Civil War days?

Connie forms new friendships with Brian, a photographer who is there to photograph Civil War buildings, and a married couple who are involved in reenactments. Among Connie's new friends is also Victoria Brentwell who once lived in the house that is now a bed and breakfast. The problem is that Victoria lived there during the Civil War.

Life becomes very complicated for Connie when she meets Victoria and she is glad Brian is there to offer a helping hand. Who is Victoria and why have she and Connie come together?

A fun read with romantic possibilities blended with visits with a woman from the past as two lives run parallel to each other. The settings are like open doors that offer the reader a look at times past and how the present has changed them.

I'm pleased to highly recommend this tale as an adventure into the unknown on more than one level. Enjoy. I certainly did.

Anne K. Edwards

Small Town Secrets by Billie A. Williams

2008-09-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-59705-283-2
Genre: Mystery

Life in a small town should be quiet and proceed at an orderly pace, but not so in Nettlesville where someone seems determined to burn it down one building at a time. And the strain is telling on Chaneeta Morgan who runs the Golden Kettle Cafe and is the elected town chairperson.

People are asking why something isn't being done to protect the town. The newspaper owner and Chaneeta's biggest critic and rival continuously flings mud on Chaneeta's name and get her removed from office.

Chaneeta is desperate to know what is going on and to catch the arsonist. Her only allies seem to be the Tewsday twins, Twice and Taaktu, one of whom is the constable during the regular's absence

However arson isn't the only problem Chaneeta faces. A murder adds to her problems and attacks are launched at her and others.

Will the town survive the continuing disasters? Will Chaneeta retain her job or will she be fired? Talented author Billie Williams will keep you guessing.

A very enjoyable read with lots of action and mystery. Recommended for any mystery buff who likes individuals with complexities and eccentricities found in realistic characters. Enjoy. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards

The African Journals of Petros Amm by Michael J. Hunt

2008-09-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

Publisher: BeWrite Books, UK

ISBN: 1904492584

Genre: Historic Fiction

Adventure ahead as you open the pages of this book. You'll have one foot in the present and one in the past. Something different for any reader who likes to explore the world and all its possibilities.

A shipwreck and a blow to the head robs a man of his past and he is taken up by a native named Shaka to become a warrior. Gradually, he rebuilds his life, but finds it perilous to live under Shaka's shadow and moves on.

It is the modern day where a deep interest in the man called Amm by Shaka develops and sets off a search for lost journals of the founder of the Amm family whose exact location is a mystery and the why of that location is another mystery.

Join Mark Mannion as he tries to keep a promise to a youthful friend to find the missing journals whose existence is doubted by modern experts on early African settlers and traders.

This tale introduces the reader to a period of history of the African continent that is little written about and whether based on fact or fiction, gives one an understanding of how it was to live when man was first subject to the whims of the land and the weather, then the whims of other men.

The African Journals of Petros Amm by talented author Michael J. Hunt is a story of survival in a time Amm lived, and survival in history to the family he founded.

I'm pleased to recommend this book and the cast of characters as well worth the time spent and am certain you'll enjoy the trip through time. I sure did.

Anne K. Edwards.

A Corpse in the Soup by Morgan St. James and Phyllice Bradner

2008-09-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

Publisher: Wings ePress, Inc.
ISBN: 1-59705-216-7
Genre: Mystery

Two sisters have a knack for solving crimes and this one is a doozy. One sister, Godiva Dubois, is wealthy and an advice columnist under the name G. O. D. while the other sister, Goldie, lives in Alaska and has an antiques shop.

Godiva lures her niece to Los Angeles with a promise of helping her get a position on a cooking show with a famous chef that she, Godiva, has taken a fancy too. Her sister soon follows and they are plunged into the world of cookery and contests and murder when one of the chefs is found face down in some bouillabaisse with a knife in his back.

With their mother and uncle's aid, the sisters gather clues to the identity of the killer. Talented authors Morgan St. James and Phyllice Bradner introduce us to the egotistic contestants of this cooking contest and names of dishes we don't make in our kitchens. Lots of fun and action to carry the tale along without a hitch.

I'm pleased to highly recommend this tale to any mystery buff who enjoys a tongue-in-cheek style of story telling with lots of fun characters who take you by the hand and lead you a merry chase after a killer. Guaranteed to provide many smiles and even provoke some laughter as you read.

Enjoy. I sure did.
Anne K. Edwards